Our

People

Heading up Heritage Timbercraft, Peter and Tammy Macfarlane are natives of South Africa who immigrated to NZ over 20 years ago. While it is sometimes true that “opposites attract,” in the case of the Macfarlane’s, they share a mutual love of and talent for art and design that is evident in all that they do. Peter works with clients from the get go, first to help fine tune a client’s vision for their future home and then to stay in touch every step along the way.  

With three teenagers who also have a strong artistic bent, the Macfarlane clan has recently taken ownership of the Mohaka River Farm venue and accommodation business. They also enjoy breeding Golden Retrievers and Australian Shepherds, catering and hosting, fishing and hunting, and are skilled at a myriad of crafts including leatherworks, furniture making, fabric printing, painting and sewing. 

Freek Hogendoorn (here’s a hint, Freek rhymes with “brake.” But, Freek has no brake, he actually has only one speed, whether that’s on the sawmill, forklift or bicycle…) was born in Holland and immigrated to NZ after marrying a Dutch Kiwi, Esther. Freek works both as the foreman for Heritage Timbercraft and heads up New Zealand Grown, a timber processing company also located here on the farm.  With four blue-eyed children, there doesn’t seem to be much spare time. And yet somehow, exhibiting a good dose of Dutch diligence, Freek also is a beekeeper, the youth leader at his church, and currently is finishing off a beautiful addition onto their home.

Jared and Tressa Wayman help with marketing and whatever needs to be done. Jared often helps with a “raising,” a spectacular event when our crew descends upon a location to erect a stunning, handcrafted timberframe in what seems like a jiffy. Jared also finds his fun in the challenge of the Quest, as he bravely goes out into the wilds of the bush for NZ Grown, prospecting for hidden groves of fine trees to bring back to the farm. This is the first step in our unique and rewarding “Forest to Home” process. In most cases, New Zealand Grown provides the timber for many of our clients who buy our homes, or other quality products such as hardwood flooring and special features such as barn doors. 

Oscar Rimmer is Heritage Timbercraft’s onsite designer. In addition to his architectural interests, Oscar is a stargazer (usually limited to a nighttime activity) but at other times, his thoughts might be up in the heavens, pondering a new design concept . He is currently making plans to build a guest cabin for his family home ("The Hearth"), which happens to be the first timber framed home built at Mohaka River Farm and is often made available for a tour for prospective clients. A history buff and musical lover, Oscar enjoys reading, and playing both the piano and the cello.  

Boone is Jared and Tressa’s youngest son and on staff at both Heritage Timbercraft and NZ Grown. He also oversees the grounds on the farm, milks cows, runs woodworking and woodturning classes, and is currently pursuing becoming an EMT. Like most of the young men around here, Boone enjoys fishing, hunting, tramping, and river adventures. Playing his guitar is also a favourite pastime and more enjoyable than tending to the property’s fussy water pump. Although Boone’s name is a nod to his North Carolina heritage, “Boone” literally means “a good thing” and that he is.

Kelvin Dolbel is a Napier original who uses his multiple talents both as a timberframing craftsman and an ingenious repairman when our equipment needs some TLC. Having built his own home in Napier years ago, his steady mind and hand helps strengthen the team. On the weekends, if he’s not out hunting and fishing, you might find Kelvin running one of his knifemaking courses at his new workshop attached to the sunny side of Heritage Timber Craft. Please see the Mohaka River Farm website for details. 

While Eddie Rimmer is employed as a craftsman at HTC, his wife, Rachel oversees the accounts.  Although his passion for both outdoor adventuring and music has spanned his life, since an early age Eddie has also enjoyed woodworking and working with his hands. He was the primary builder of his stunning yet practical, timber-framed home ("The Hearth") here on the farm, which the Rimmer’s graciously make available for tours. Parents of three grown children (including Oscar), music is a large part of their family culture and as a couple, they head up the worship team at their church. Rachel also enjoys all types of fibre crafts including weaving.

Wilson Delany, our resident Gentle Giant, is another appreciated craftsman at HTC. With a background in regenerative farm management, he is still utilising that part of his talents through managing the herd of horses, the dairy cows, and heading up the horse trekking business at Mohaka River Farm. He and his wife, Ashley, are the busy parents of two preschoolers and share a passion for hosting old and new friends, serving up wholesome cooking from their abundant garden. Ashley, vibrant and creative, is the photographer behind many of our photos and videos. 

Joseph Lehman, another craftsman at HTC, is a more recent arrival on the farm and we’d really like to keep him. An American by birth (a South Carolinian no less…where Tressa also grew up), he is quickly adapting to our Kiwi ways without forgetting his roots, if y’all know what I mean. After completing a bachelor degree in traditional timber-framing from the American College of the Building Arts, Joseph backpacked around Europe doing carpentry and farm stays, including a timber framing project in Serbia. He was over the moon when he found out there was a timber framing company in NZ willing to “give him a go” and we are pleased that we did! In his spare time, he enjoys time with his girlfriend, adventures in the outdoors, good food cooked over a campfire and good company.